Making it in High Heels 2: For Future Leaders and Role Models: For Future Leaders and Role Models

By Kimberlee MacDonald

Dealing with adversity is the toughest thing you will ever go through in life. You may think you are the only one dealing with it, but you aren’t. These women have all achieved incredible success against the odds. Learn from the best mentors because they want you to succeed too! Making It in High Heels is never easy, so carry your own support team with you!

• Language: English
• Publisher: G&D Media
• Release date: Oct 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9781722520670

Book preview

Ani Chakmakian

Before I wanted to make it in high heels, I dreamed of making it on figure skates. For more than ten years, I worked to make my dreams a reality; only to discover that continuing toward my

goal would lead to serious health consequences in the future. That sobering reality gave rise to the agonizing decision to leave my dream unrealized. As a teenager, it was painful to let skating go, but the experience opened doors to new possibilities. My story is about overcoming loss and converting your energy and creativity into new and exciting dreams that will enable you to feel fulfilled and empowered. It’s about recognizing that losing something you love doesn’t mean you can’t continue to grow.

I was on skates from the age of two. Like many Canadian girls, I took to the ice with natural ease and soon grew to love everything about skating. The challenging artistry, demanding jumps and beautiful spins were magical. The perfect balance between art and sport and the representation of music in movement made me feel that I had the ability to create something unique and original every time I stepped on the ice. My childhood years were full of the joy that came with doing something I loved. I was so excited to be skating everyday that I was almost always the first one on the ice and the last one to get kicked off by the Zamboni driver. The feel of my blades being the first to etch edges into the fresh, untouched ice was matched only by working to the last minute to perfect a jump before I skated off for the day.

I’d always loved practice. It was my parents and coaches, and later, my teachers, who would tell me to rest. Growing up in Edmonton, I was inspired by the many champion skaters at my rink. Although it was minus 2˚C most of the winter, I’d wake up early most mornings and head to the rink with my mom to practice before school started. After class, I’d be back again to skate until dinner. My parents recognized my determination and were always amazingly supportive. I felt lucky that I had the opportunity to learn so much about myself on the ice.

As much as skating was art and sport to me, it was also social education. Early on, I noticed that the other skaters would gather around the boards to chitchat about the jumps the other girls were working on and who would be going to the next competition. One day, when I was eleven, I landed my first double axle. It happened right in the middle of the ice during a very busy summer school session.

I was ecstatic! It was the hardest jump I’d landed yet and no one had asked me to do it; I’d just decided that day would be the day I’d land my axle and I did it. While it was a moment of quiet excitement, it was also a catalyst for spawning animosity from some of the other competitors. I learned from then on how unkind girls can be when they try to measure up to each other, instead of themselves.

Skating is such a demanding sport, not only because of the grueling physical demands, but also because of the psychological challenges. Many young girls find themselves sandwiched between pressures from their parents, their coaches, the sport and their own insecurities. It’s hard for some not to take it out on others. Luckily, I skated because I wanted to; because I loved it and later, because I hoped to compete internationally. I had the most supportive parents, the best coaches and support team, with the talent to do what I wanted and the nature to compete with a positive mindset.

I happily and successfully competed until a serious hip injury left me bedridden for a month. I vividly remember experiencing excruciating pain just trying to sit up and watch TV and having to be carried everywhere by my dad. I had dislodged a muscle and ligaments in and around my hip. I remember how concerned the specialists seemed over my X-rays as they discussed a course of treatment, while my anxious parents looked on. I was relieved when I was told that, although I’d have to be very careful, I’d be able to get back on my skates in 12-14 weeks.

Within a few weeks of being back on the ice, however, the same injury occurred again. My injuries had already become chronic and the doctors urged my parents to do the right thing and take me out of skating. They made the decision for me in my best interests; although it took me years to see it that way. It wasn’t until I learned that 1998 Olympic Champion Tara Lipinski received a double hip replacement at the age of 18 that I understood what the doctors were talking about then.

Life after skating was hard, at first. After losing something that I loved and that was a part of my identity for so many years, I struggled to find meaning in my life without it. As a teenager, I spent some time confused and preoccupied with thinking and writing to make sense of my situation. None of my friends at school had experienced anything like what I’d been through, so it was hard to talk about it with any of my peers.

Eventually, I picked up a racquet and started playing tennis. I began competing after five months of training; to the amazement of my coach. Later on, I played volleyball and basketball on junior high sports teams until I found my ultimate interests in high school. It was there that I started to connect with activities I was passionate about again. I kept myself very busy between my honours and International Baccalaureate classes; becoming involved with creative writing, social justice and public speaking. I worked on the school newspaper and raised awareness about landmines; I attended local and national leadership conferences and engaged in fundraising for many charities. I developed long-lasting relationships with peers and adults and immersed myself fully in learning the skills that would carry me through university and into my career in Public Relations today.

Skating taught me perseverance and how to heal from the past and move on. Through its loss, I discovered a reservoir of internal strength that I could draw on to convert my energy into new and fulfilling dreams with the same level of dedication and excitement. It also crystallized my philosophy that competing is a very personal process; it’s not about your opponent as much as it is about meeting and exceeding your goals to reach your personal best each time you are put to the test. This approach has stood me well in business, too. Life is too short to look back in regret on things that could have been when there is so much to inspire you in the present moment. My wish for you is to find your inner light and let it shine!

Jennifer Snyder

I believe the athletic foundation upon which I later built was started early. I was riding a motorcycle at the age of five, waterskiing by nine and swimming competitively at twelve. My frame grew quickly; I was a lanky 5'9 by fifth grade and had soared to a lofty 6'2 by my freshman year of high school. My height and athletic ability led me to where I am today; playing professional beach volleyball on the Association of Volleyball Professionals’ tour.

During high school, sports seemed to come easily for me. I made the Varsity basketball and Junior Varsity volleyball teams as a freshman. I moved up to Varsity volleyball for Regionals and State at the end of the season. That year, I was also introduced to club volleyball. This is the largest girls’ sports organization in the country for girls 18 years and under. I began playing club volleyball along with my other high school sports and loved every minute.

Basketball was always my first love and I genuinely believed that I would be going to college on a basketball scholarship. We took Regionals my freshman year and my sophomore year, we were a heavy favorite for the State Championship.

Unfortunately, in December of my sophomore year, at the beginning of both my club volleyball and high school basketball seasons, I ruptured my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) playing volleyball. I needed total knee reconstruction surgery and would be out for at least nine months; possibly up to a year. I was devastated and so were my teams.

As the basketball season began, I went to practice on crutches everyday to learn the plays and stay in touch with the girls, in case I was healthy enough to return in time for Regionals and State. During one particular practice, I didn’t understand one of the plays being taught, so I asked the coach to explain it to me. She replied, I don’t have time right now. I asked if I could come into her office after the practice so she could diagram it for me and she again replied, I don’t have the time, you’re just going to have to figure it out on your own time. The coach was so upset with me for getting injured playing club volleyball and ruining her chances for a State Championship that she was unwilling to help me stay prepared for my return. That was the last time I ever played basketball.

On the flip side, my club volleyball coach was in contact with me weekly, came to visit me in the hospital; constantly wanting to know how I was doing and when I would be ready to play again. Leaven Eubank was willing to do anything to help me achieve success and he remains one of my best friends. I have played volleyball ever since.

My volleyball career took off with lightning speed in my junior and senior years. During that time, I was invited to many elite programs, including the Junior Olympic Volleyball team; a developmental program run through USA Volleyball to train and recruit young potential players for the US National Team. I was offered scholarships by many colleges and decided to choose the one that kept me close to home; Arizona State University.

There, I was a loud and arrogant freshman, not seeing any playing time. I felt I was better than I actually was at that point and I voiced my opinions often about how I should be playing instead of the senior year player that was on the court. I’m a little embarrassed when I look back on that time, but I wouldn’t change it; it’s a part of how I came to be who I am today. In one of the biggest rivalry games during the middle of the season, against the University of Arizona, I was put in the game. I got my chance and never looked back.

I had a great freshman season and was again invited to an elite program put on by USA Volleyball. Olympic Festival is a college level program aimed at grooming young athletes for future national team participation. It was at this event that I first met Kerri Walsh, the future two-time Olympic Gold Medalist for Beach Volleyball. At that time, she was a bright-eyed 16-year-old kid with amazing playing ability. We became friends and a few of us nicknamed her ‘Novice.’ She was the only high school kid there and she was better than most of us; not surprising, considering her outcome. She remains one of the most amazing people I have ever met. I made many friendships there that I still cherish today. I left with new confidence and a strong desire to further my volleyball opportunities.

At ASU, I played on a team that was talented enough to make it to the round of 16 nationally every year, but didn’t have the skills or discipline to go further. I decided I wanted something bigger and better. My goal was to be All-American and to win a National Championship.

I decided I wanted to go to Long Beach State University in beautiful Southern California. They are known for their volleyball program and I wanted to be part of it. Luckily for me, Head Coach Brian Gimmillaro was interested and had a scholarship to offer, so I transferred from ASU to LBSU the summer before my junior year. It was there that I first met Misty May, the other two-time Olympic Gold Medalist in Beach Volleyball and Kerri Walsh’s future partner. She was my setter (a volleyball position) in college and she, too, is one of the most incredible and generous people I have ever had the fortune to meet.

The program at Long Beach State was a different experience than I was used to; it was extremely structured. I had trouble finding my way for a while. I kept slipping up and causing problems because everything was monitored; even down to the color of my hair tie at practice. But, I learned and things gradually got better.

Meanwhile, my volleyball skills had reached a new level. I was doing things I didn’t even know I was capable of doing and in my junior year, I was invited to the World University Games tryouts at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. I arrived two weeks late to the training session because I was in summer school. I didn’t make the roster because they didn’t think it would be fair to replace someone who had participated in the full program with the squad with someone who hadn’t.

Back at Long Beach State, our team headed to Japan for pre-season training against their National Champions. I had a falling out with Brian there and almost left the team. There were respect and positive reinforcement issues that I felt needed to be dealt with; thankfully they were resolved.

In my senior year, we went on to a 33-3 record and were ranked #1 in the nation. We made it through the NCAA tournament to the Final Four in Spokane, Washington, where we lost to the eventual champs, Stanford. My friend, Kerri Walsh, was on the other side of the net on the Stanford squad.

I left college in search of a career in professional volleyball. I had dabbled in the beach game with Misty and her dad, Butch, a bit during college, but by the time I graduated college, the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour had gone under; my only option was to play indoor volleyball in Europe.

My first stop was Palermo, Sicily. I was 19 years old and had never been that far from home. I’d grown up in Arizona across town from ASU and LBSU was only a five-hour trip from home. In Sicily, there was no shooting home for the weekend. I missed my family and boyfriend terribly and ended up missing out on an amazing opportunity. I left within the month due to homesickness that was compounded by the language barrier. It was much harder to keep in touch with people back then, too. The internet has become an amazing tool for travelling athletes!

Once home, I realized my huge mistake and regretted my decision to return. So, I contacted my agent again and was sent out the following fall to Istanbul, Turkey. Again, this was a difficult situation since few people there spoke English and it was extremely hard to communicate with anyone. I travelled from team to team, trying out for weeks with my local agent; with no luck. Then, I realized that my agent had his own ‘B’ level team he wanted me to play for. I wasn’t happy with that arrangement due to a decrease in pay. I called my agent in the US and asked him if there was anywhere else and he sent me to Switzerland. I ended up playing in the city of Schauffhausen for the season and enjoyed myself. The pay was enough to live on and I got to play volleyball; which is what I love to do. I thought it wasn’t a bad deal, if I do say so myself. But, when I got home I learned that people were making heaps of money playing overseas! I missed out on the cash, but had an incredible experience, so I can’t complain. When I got home, I had no money saved and needed to get a job. There was no money to be earned playing volleyball in Arizona, so I went to work as a bartender; something temporary. I wanted to return to Europe to play, eventually, but had to wait for the next season.

Well, the next season came and went and I continued working; I was making decent money and I was in love. I was getting married. Then life happened and suddenly, three years later, I was divorced and still bartending.

I was working one beautiful Sunday afternoon, zipping through TV channels to find something for my customers to watch when I landed on NBC. To my dismay, there were Misty May and Kerri Walsh, in the finals of an AVP event. I was devastated; all my missed opportunities came rushing back to mock me. I hadn’t felt like that since they’d told me I’d have to sit out a year from sports when I’d hurt my knee as a kid. I told everyone in the bar they would just have to wait a few minutes and I went to the office to sulk for a bit. I couldn’t believe I’d missed my chance to play the game that I loved so much in order to be sitting in a small bar, serving drinks for the last three years of my life. I had blown it. I was sad and disappointed in myself.

I found out the AVP was coming to Arizona the following season and I went to the event in Tempe. I saw a few friends and said hello to Misty and Kerri; they were just beginning their march on the world at that time.

All through the following year, I kept thinking, I could have and, I should have but the thought I will hadn’t entered my mind, yet. The tour came back to town the following year and I met up with Misty and her family for dinner. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, I surprised myself by asking Butch, What if I wanted to play? What does it take? He responded by telling me it wasn’t worth my time and it was very expensive. AVP athletes have to pay all of their own travel expenses; unlike a pro baseball or football team where it’s all covered by the team. Butch also told me that it takes about three years to really understand the game and get good enough to make any money at it.

His noncommittal answers were partially motivated by his memory of me from college; let’s just say I enjoyed my college experience to the fullest and made many memories! What he wasn’t aware of was my drive and motivation and that I had grown up. All my life I had half-assed things because I could get away with it. But, I had come to a point where I realized that I’d never pushed myself for fear of failure. I’d thought that if I didn’t give 100% and failed, I could always tell myself that I could have succeeded if I’d wanted to, since I hadn’t really tried. There are many things that I could have excelled at if I had only applied myself. I didn’t want to grow old saying, I bet I could have, about anything in my life.

Jim Steele, a family friend of the May’s helped make my dream a reality. He was my liaison with Butch, who wasn’t interested in what I was saying because he felt that my fire would pass. With Jim’s help, I made plans to meet with Butch and Misty to discuss possible arrangements for coming out and trying to make it at the beach volleyball game.

I drove to California a few weeks after the Arizona event to show that I was serious and got my plan in motion. Everyone was willing to help me get started and find my way. With that meeting under my belt, at the beginning of May, I went home to Arizona, put in my notice to quit my bartending job, sold everything I owned and moved to California five weeks later. Misty opened up her home to me that summer for a few months while she traveled the world, kicking everyone’s butt. I eventually found a place and started my new adventure of beach volleyball. My beach volleyball career started out slow and shaky. I played with the Huntington Beach locals everyday to learn how to walk and jump in the sand. They call that